Man who left woman paraplegic after bike crash defends himself

A 60-year-old woman has been paralysed after a crash two months ago. (Photo / Getty)

The man involved in a mountain biking crash in Timaru that left a 60-year-old woman a paraplegic has defended himself.

Brett Corry, of Timaru, in an email to the Otago Daily Times said he was "extremely disappointed'' by the way he had been portrayed.

The woman, who has been in Burwood Hospital's spinal unit since the crash on Waitangi Day, described the man who ran into her as careless and lacking consideration.

Corry said he had been riding the Saltwater Creek track as he had done dozens of times before.

"I was travelling at the same speed I usually do which is between 20-25kmh, which is usually slow enough for me to avoid any trouble.

"However, on that day when I came around the blind corner I was met with the other cyclist right in the middle of the track.

"What I shouted to her was "go left'', as that is where we both should have been.

"Whether it was shock or fear that made her freeze up I am unsure but she stayed riding straight up the middle of the path as I veered left to avoid her.

"It was the impact, not the speed that was the biggest issue in the crash.

"As I tried to go past her the handlebars clipped, causing me to fall towards her, impacting her chest and knocking her backwards off her bike, which is how she landed on her back.

"I ended up over my handlebars and down a ditch.

"I got up as fast as I could and went to her aid as I knew her landing backwards could not be good.''

On seeing the woman was badly hurt he called an ambulance.

Corry said a physiotherapist who had exchanged a few words with the woman shortly before the crash "revealed to me those words were about how the cyclist basically wanted the track to herself so she could ride up the middle.

"Clearly, she has forgotten this part.''

Corry said he had not had any contact with the woman since the crash but had been liaising with her family through the physiotherapist.

"The last I heard was that they wanted privacy and not to be contacted.''